Alton Priors forum 2 room
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Alton Priors

interesting photos juamei

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ocifant O
ocifant Jul 23, 2003 14:52:30
Replying to ocifant

I've had a further reply to my enquiry about the trapdoors.

"I'm afraid that I have not had any success in establishing the presence of the sandstone revealed by the trapdoors in the church. It is possible that the stone is in its original position and was left in situ following the widening of the nave during the 16th century.

A former colleague recalls one of the Trust's Trustees being unhappy about the trapdoors and regarded them as 'bogus antiquarianism'. The architect of the time, long since retired from practice, cannot remember why the trapdoors were formed.

Apparently there have been minor digs in the area but mostly at the point where the Ridgeway passes through Wansdyke (Mediaeval Archaeology Vol II (1967). A small barrow at Alton Barnes and Adams Grave at Alton Priors are mentioned in Antiquities Journal Vol LXXI (1991). Unfortunately, this is of no help in our quest for information on the church.

I will make further enquiries and let you know should anything of interest come to light."

So it seems the guy I'm in contact with isn't prepared to let this go just yet. I've replied thanking him for his tenacity.

R Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jul 23, 2003 16:26:18
Replying to ocifant

Hmm. So the nave was widened taking in some stones that were knocking about outside but not moving them..?

Not quite sure what he meant by 'bogus antiquarianism' - do you think it means that they were digging up the floor and they found the stones, thought 'ooh that must be something significant' and redid the floor with some trapdoors. But really they weren't nothing special. Quite a lot of trouble to go to. And I wouldn't imagine many people were into 'antiquarianism' in the 16th century, surely?

It's all very interesting, thank you for all your (ongoing) researching

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